Applications of Multifractal Analysis in Medical Signal and Image Processing

Dear Colleagues,

Fractals and multifractals have become indispensable tools for quantifying complexity in natural systems, offering mathematical frameworks capable of describing structures and signals that defy traditional Euclidean analysis. While fractal analysis has long been used to measure global geometric complexity, multifractal analysis provides an even deeper insight by capturing local irregularities, heterogeneities, and scale-dependent variations. This makes multifractals particularly well suited for characterizing the intricate morphological and dynamical features of biological objects and signals.

During recent decades, the application of fractal and multifractal methods has experienced rapid growth across numerous scientific disciplines. In the biomedical sciences, these approaches have proven especially valuable for analyzing both one-dimensional physiological signals (such as ECG, EEG, and other biomedical time series), and two-dimensional medical images obtained through histology, histopathology, radiography, CT, and MRI. Their sensitivity to subtle structural or textural differences enables researchers to detect patterns that may remain hidden when using conventional quantitative techniques.

At the same time, there is significant potential for further development. Emerging research continues to demonstrate the value of multifractal parameters for assessing neuronal morphology, vascular organization, tissue architecture in histopathological samples, and structural complexity in radiological imaging. Moreover, the integration of fractal and multifractal-based features into machine learning workflows provides new opportunities for improving classification, prediction, and diagnostic accuracy across a wide range of medical applications.

This Special Issue aims to highlight advances in methodology and application of multifractal analysis in medical signal and image processing. We welcome submissions in the form of original research articles, review articles, technical note articles, and perspective articles that explore novel computational approaches, experimental findings, technical developments, and interdisciplinary applications.

Dr. Nemanja Rajkovic
Prof. Dr. Nebojša T. Milošević
Guest Editors

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• fractal analysis
• multifractal analysis
• morphometry
• medical image analysis
• biomedical signal processing
• machine learning in medicine
• computational biophysics